Read The New Rector (Tales from Turnham Malpas) for Free Online Page B

tell her about the playgroup. I know it’s not official but I’m bursting to talk to someone about it.’
    Rosie shrugged on her anorak and asked her mother what a playgroup was.
    ‘A school for little girls and boys who are not old enough to go to Mr Palmer’s school.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘In the church hall, I expect.’
    ‘Oh.’ Rosie popped her thumb in her mouth whilst she sorted out her feelings about it.
    Liz was pruning her roses in the front garden. Guy and Hugh were racing madly about on their bikes.
‘Liz, I just had to come round. Muriel Hipkin has told me that the rector is thinking of starting a playgroup in the church hall and she is going to suggest me as the leader.’
    ‘I know, I know.’
    ‘How do you know?’
    ‘Peter’s been round to see me this morning. It’s not going to be in the church hall – well, it might be to start with – but then with any luck it will be moved to that spare room in the Infants.’
    ‘Liz, has he asked you to be leader?’
    ‘Of course not, I’m not a teacher. He just wanted to know if I would be willing to help you, and help form a committee.’
    ‘Would you mind working with me?’
    ‘I’d love to. We both need some kind of outlet and this would be just the thing. Hugh, leave Pansy alone – she doesn’t want to ride your bike. Stop it, please. Let’s all go inside and get Chinese Checkers out or something. Come on, all of you.’
    When Suzy left Liz’s house she decided to take the bull by the horns and call on Peter.
    He answered the door and invited them all inside.
    ‘I hope you don’t mind me coming to call,’ Suzy began rather shyly. ‘Have I caught you when you’re busy on anything? No? Well, Miss Hipkin has been round to ask if I might be interested in starting a playgroup and I’ve come to say yes, I’d be delighted.’
    Peter had lifted Pansy onto his knee and given her his watch to play with. Rosie was trying hard to get it off her.
    ‘Let me see if I can find something for you to play with.’ He opened a drawer in his desk and took out paper and a pencil. ‘There you are – draw me a picture. I would be delighted, too, if you would do it,’ he said, finally meeting Suzy’s bright blue eyes. ‘We need enthusiasm but we also need expertise, and it will make it much easier for us to get the use of the room in the school if the person in charge is known to be properly qualified for the job. I envisage a really lively playgroup doing a real job, not just keeping the children out of their mothers’ ways. Would that be how you would feel about it?’
‘Yes, of course. It will make Toria Clark’s job so much easier if the new intake have had the experience of a good playgroup. Liz Neal is very willing to help. I don’t know about charges, though. I’ll ask around some of my friends in London and see what they pay.’
    ‘I hadn’t thought about charges, but of course there will have to be one. You ask around and I’ll draft a letter for the Council and get someone to come down and view our facilities. If we can have it in the school that would be the best. If not, the church hall.’
    ‘I won’t keep you any longer, Peter. Come along, girls. Isn’t it exciting? I can’t wait to get started!’
    ‘My daddy’s gone to America this morning.’ Pansy looked up at Peter as she told him her news.
    ‘Oh, I see. Will he be away long?’
    ‘No, just three or four days.’ Suzy took hold of Rosie and set off for the door.
    Peter saw them out and stood watching them walk along the pavement. They lived next door but one. He heartily wished it hadn’t been Suzy who was the most suitable candidate for the job.
    Two days later Suzy, her head full of lists and jobs to do towards the successful opening of the playgroup, answered a knock at the door. Expecting it to be Muriel with more news about the project, she had a shock when she found a policewoman and what looked like two detectives standing there. The older man showed her his